Apple tree

ABSTRACT

An apple tree which closely resembles the usual Jonathan in form and size, producing fruit having the color and shape of Starking Delicious (unpatented) but actually tasting and having the texture of Jonathan, with improved sugar content at comparable stage of development and good keeping qualities.

My present invention relates to a new variety of apple tree which Idiscovered as a chance seedling growing near some old trees which weresaved when the other trees in an old section of former cultivated familyorchard, were removed to provide an area for farming.

The initial discovery was thought at first to merely constitute anotherRed Delicious, since the trees in the area formerly growing there, wereof the old Starking (unpatented) variety, the fruit appearing at thattime to be colored and shaped like the fruit from those trees would beexpected to appear.

However when the fruit was used for cooking and tasted, it was found tohave the distinct flavor and texture of a Jonathan apple.

The foregoing led to closer observation and careful comparison whichproduced the conclusions that the fruit did in fact combine many aspectsof the two old well known varieties including an even more intense redthan the Starking Delicious with definite shape thereof however beingretained.

When used for cooking and eating the decided Jonathan flavor wasevident.

Testing of the fruit was effected because of our orchard experience andresulted in establishing a number of outstanding average aspectsincluding a substantially greater sugar content at the same stage ofdevelopment that the parent varieties, greater pressure test score,somewhat lower acid content, and total greater value because ofexcellent keeping qualities.

All of the foregoing support my decision to designate my new variety as"Deli-Jon" because of the combination of attributes of both Deliciousand Jonathan varieties, and I have caused asexual reproduction to beeffected, by budding in the vicinity of Zillah, Wash. finding that theimproved characteristics and distinctions are retained and come true insuccessive propagations, assuring that an improved commercial varietyhas in fact been discovered and developed.

In summarizing the improvements and advantages of my new variety, thefollowing appear to be the most outstanding:

1. Excellent color of an old variety of Starking Red Delicious.

2. Attractive shape of Starking.

3. Increased sugar content as compared with similar varieties.

4. Long keeping characteristics on the average 165 days in ordinarystorage.

5. Resemblance of the tree to Jonathan.

6. Distinct flavor of the fruit more closely resembling Jonathan thanDelicious.

7. Good resistance to apple diseases as well as mildew.

There follows a detailed description of my new variety as to tree andfruit, taken in conjunction with color illustrations of the same in thedrawing, which discloses important aspects in color as nearly like thatof the fruit and leaves, as is possible to provide the same in a colordisclosure of this kind, color comparisons wet forth being made with theNickerson Color Fan, published by Munsell Color Company where suchcomparisons are distinct and as to those aspects which may be describedwith common terms, ordinary descriptive language is used.

Locality where grown and observed: Zillah, Wash.

Date of first and last picking: September 25th and October 3rd.

Tree: Small size; medium vigor; spreading; low; open; slow growing; halfhardy; medium productive.

Trunk.--Stock; medium.

Branches.--Medium; smooth; much branching. Color -- brown. Lenticels --Medium and small.

Foliage:

Leaves.--Medium; (about 4 inches long -- 2 6/10 inches wide) oval;abruptly pointed; medium thickness. Color -- 10 Y 5/5 light olive.Margin -- Coarsely serrate. Petiole -- Length (1 7/10 inches); mediumthickness.

Flowers:

Dates of first and full bloom.--About April 20th to April 25th.

Size.--Medium.

Color.--White.

Fruit:

Maturity when described.--Eating hard, October 3.

Pectin.--7 percent.

Starch.--Medium.

Acid.--0.39 percent.

Brix.--14.1 percent.

Ph.--3.7.

Size.--Axial diameter 3 2/10 inches. Transverse 3 inches.

Form.--Uniform; symmetrical; regular; oblong; conical. Five humps atblossom end.

Cavity.--Symmetrical. Depth -- 6/10 inches. Breadth -- 7/10 inches.

Basin.--Symmetrical; narrow; crowned.

Stem.--Stout; pubescent. Length -- 9/10 inches. Bracts -- few; about 5.

Calyx.--Closed; segments persistent; narrowly oblong. Length -- 4/10inches. Imbricate at base; inner and outer surface pubescent.

Eye.--Small; partially closed.

Skin.--Thick; tough; smooth; glossy; waxed. Dots -- obscure; small;even; circular. Color -- yellow-green. Distribution -- scattered. Colormarkings -- Blushed; bright. Ground color -- Greenish yellow. Color ofmarkings -- All over red with few ground color spots. Bloom -- scant;wanting; distribution -- small. General color effect -- Strong red 5 R4/12, largely dependent upon manner in which light strikes the fruit.

Flesh: Juicy.

Color.--White.

Texture.--Hard; fine; crisp.

Flavor.--Subacid; sweet; sprightly; rich.

Aroma.--Distinct -- more nearly like that of Jonathan.

Quality.--Best. Flesh stays white longer than Delicious -- similar toJonathan.

Core:

Sessile.--Medium.

Bundle area.--Medium; narrowly symmetrical.

Halves of area.--Equal.

Bundles.--Yellowish.

Whorls.--Two.

Alternate bundle.--Below stamens.

Core lines.--Meeting.

In cross-section.--Distinct.

Carpellary area.--Distinct; small.

Calyx.--Pubescent; cone-shaped.

Stem of funnel.--Short.

Depth of tube to shoulder.--3/10 inch.

Entire depth.--4/10 inch.

Styles.--10; distinct; toward base; pubescent.

Stamens.--Distinct. Whorls -- basal.

Auxillary cavity.--Wanting.

Seed cells.--Closed. Cell walls -- thick; tough. Length 7/10 inches.Breadth 4/10 inches. Longitudinal section -- Oblong. Surface -- Smooth.Cross-section -- Narrow.

Seeds:

Number.--Perfect; 10.

Number in one cell.--2.

Length.--3/10 inches.

Breadth.--2/10 inches.

Form.--Acute.

Color.--2.5 YR 3/3 -- Moderate reddish brown.

Use: Market; local; dessert; culinary.

Keeping quality: Good; about 165 days in ordinary storage.

Resistance to:

Insects.--Medium.

Diseases.--Good with resistance to mildew.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of apple tree substantially as herein shown and described, characterized particularly as to novelty by the unique combination of attractive appearance in color and shape which closely resembles Starking Delicious (unpatented), while having the flavor and texture of Jonathan, as well as tree shape and size of Jonathan, improved sugar content, excellent keeping qualities, and good resistance to disease and mildew. 